Articles tagged with Alcoholism
A new international study reveals that people in high- and middle-income countries are more likely to drink heavily if they have access to cheap, off-premise alcohol. The study found that heavy drinkers tend to buy cheaper alcohol from off-premise outlets and purchase it at later times.
A new study found that binge drinking among older moderate drinkers significantly increases mortality risk compared to regular moderate drinkers. The study highlights the importance of focusing on drinking patterns and absolute amounts of ethanol consumed as predictors of health outcomes.
A new Indiana University study found stark differences in brain network activation among alcohol-dependent women, suggesting the anterior insular region may be a key target for treatment. The research indicates that these women have trouble switching between brain networks, affecting their decision-making about drinking.
A recent study by Janni Niclasen found that children of mothers who consumed small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy showed improved emotional and behavioral outcomes at age seven. However, the study also highlighted the importance of considering psychological factors such as attachment between mother and child. The research, conduct...
A new study finds that states with stronger alcohol policies have significantly lower binge drinking rates. The study analyzed 29 alcohol policies and found that stronger policy environments can reduce binge drinking rates by one-fourth, even after accounting for demographic factors.
Researchers have identified a gene network of 39 biologically related genes associated with alcohol dependence. The study, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, suggests that this network may hold new targets for treating or preventing alcoholism.
A clinical trial found gabapentin to be safe and effective in treating alcohol dependence, reducing cravings, depression, and sleeplessness. The drug's effect on drinking outcomes was at least as large as existing FDA-approved treatments, with significant benefits seen in patients who received the high-dose regimen.
A Finnish study found that binge drinking accelerates atherosclerosis and increases the risk of stroke in middle-aged men, particularly those who experience hangovers. The study also highlights the importance of moderate alcohol consumption and managing other risk factors such as hypertension and overweight.
A new study found that nearly two-thirds of college students used false IDs to purchase alcohol, leading to more frequent drinking and increased risk of developing alcohol use disorders. The study also identified several predictors of false ID use frequency, including younger age at first drink and higher levels of sensation-seeking.
A study of 66,111 pregnant women in Norway found that those with negative affectivity were more likely to engage in light alcohol use and binge drinking. This increased risk was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression, highlighting the need for further research into this issue.
A new study from the University of Missouri identifies escapism, social interaction, and rewards as key risk factors for addictive video game use among adults. The research suggests that individuals who play games to escape daily life or to socialize with others are more likely to develop problematic gaming behaviors.
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that high school seniors commonly engage in binge drinking, with 20.2% reporting five or more drinks in a row. Young men and white students are more likely to binge drink, while parents' education level is associated with the frequency of drinking.
A study found that young adult individuals with co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders, referred to as dual diagnosis (DD), show similar benefits compared to those diagnosed only with a substance use disorder. Despite worse abstinence rates, DD patients who actively participate in 12-step programs experience benefits.
A new study compared individuals' perceptions of driving danger while sober and intoxicated, finding that sober knowledge does not guarantee responsible judgment. The research suggests that people may apply their sober knowledge to a hypothetical situation but struggle to apply it in real-life situations when impaired by alcohol.
Researchers found common genetic factors underlying alcoholism and certain eating-disorder symptoms, including binge eating and purging habits. The study included nearly 6,000 adult twins and suggests that some genes influencing alcohol dependence also influence binge eating in men and women.
A study of racial differences in types of alcohol beverages consumed during adolescence found that black and white girls report significantly different risk profiles. Black girls tend to consume liquor, while white girls generally drink beer and wine. The study identified common predictors of heavier drinking profiles for both groups, ...
Research reveals women progress to treatment with similar negative consequences as men but reach threshold earlier, sparking need for tailored interventions and greater awareness of women's issues. The study analyzed data from over 530 individuals seeking treatment, finding a significant gender gap in the time it takes to seek help.
Research suggests that brain dopamine responses to alcohol ingestion may serve as a neurobiological marker of vulnerability to AUDs. Individuals at high risk showed increased brain dopamine, while those at low risk showed decreased dopamine levels. This finding could help identify individuals at higher risk for developing AUDs.
Researchers found that individuals at high risk for alcoholism experience a greater dopamine response when drinking, which may contribute to increased desire for rewards and counteract the sedative effects of alcohol. This study provides insight into the causes of addiction and could mark an important step toward developing treatment o...
A study found that increases in cigarette taxes are associated with modest to moderate reductions in alcohol consumption among vulnerable groups. The results suggest that policies targeting one health behavior can have broader benefits for public health by affecting additional behaviors that tend to co-occur with the targeted behavior.
A study of 12,000 young Swiss men found that those who consume addictive substances like alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis are more likely to seek information on these topics. Despite this, prevention campaigns may not be effective due to the complexity of individual knowledge and behaviors.
A study of over 6,500 children found that early childhood temperament styles can predict alcohol use and problems in mid-adolescence. Temperaments such as emotional and behavioral difficulties were linked to an increased risk of drinking, while sociability was also a significant factor.
Researchers found that men use heavy terms like 'hammered' for moderate intoxication, while women use lighter terms like 'buzzed.' These findings suggest tailored measures for prevention and intervention could be effective. The study's results have implications for how we perceive and communicate intoxicated states, particularly among ...
A new study found that recent drinking is related to the orbitofrontal-region brain response to an intensely sweet stimulus, which may indicate risk for developing alcoholism. The research used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and recruited healthy volunteers to examine brain responses to sweet tastes and drinking patterns.
A new rodent study reveals that chronic drinking intensifies lung damage caused by particulate matter, leading to decreased lung function. Chronic drinking impairs alveolar macrophage function, which plays a critical role in protecting the lungs from particulates and airway repair.
A new study reveals that frequent binge drinking is significantly associated with insomnia symptoms in older adults. Participants who engaged in binge drinking on more than two days per week had an 84 percent greater odds of reporting insomnia symptoms compared to non-binge drinkers.
A survey of internal medicine residents at Massachusetts General Hospital found that more than half rated their addiction and substance use disorders training as fair or poor. The majority felt unprepared to diagnose or treat such disorders. In response, the hospital increased residents' training in addiction medicine.
A study of college students found that female drinkers exceeded national guidelines for weekly drinking, putting them at increased risk for long-term health issues. Weekly drinking limits are lower for women due to differences in alcohol metabolism and blood volume.
A study finds that active smokers with alcohol dependence show more problems with memory, problem-solving skills, and cognitive efficiency than non-smokers. The effects become greater with increasing age, suggesting that chronic cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption exacerbate neurocognitive decline in older adults.
A new study by University of Toronto researchers found that parents with addiction issues are more likely to have depressed adult children. The study analyzed data from 6,268 adults and found a significant association between parental addictions and increased odds of depression in adulthood.
Regular binge drinking in college causes immediate changes in circulation, increasing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. College students who binge drink may experience impaired vascular function similar to those with daily heavy alcohol consumption.
A new study examines the effectiveness of parent-based interventions in preventing alcohol use among college students. The results show that teens who perceive their friends as more approving of alcohol consumption are more influenced by parental communication about drinking. PBIs can be effective even among those feeling high peer pre...
A CU-Boulder study found that regular aerobic exercise is associated with less damage to the brain's white matter among heavy alcohol users. The study suggests that exercise might repair the damage caused by heavy drinking and could be a promising treatment approach for alcohol problems.
A new University of Iowa study suggests that deployment of a parent puts children at an increased risk for drinking alcohol and using drugs. The study found a three-to-four-fold increase in binge drinking among children of deployed or recently returned military parents compared to non-military families.
Researchers found large variations in animal responses to alcohol, with some showing robust sensitization and others no change. These findings may lead to better understanding of addiction and development of more effective treatment drugs.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have validated a questionnaire to assess youth participation in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)-related helping activities. The Service to Others in Sobriety (SOS) questionnaire shows promise in identifying youths at risk of relapse and promoting recovery.
Researchers have found genetic variants linked to alcoholism in the Spanish population, including women. The study identified polymorphisms in genes related to metabolism and the dopaminergic system, which are associated with increased risk of hazardous drinking and dependence.
A study found that people who grew up in states with lower minimum drinking ages were more likely to binge drink later in life. The researchers tracked over 39,000 participants and found that those who lived in states with lower drinking ages were 19% more likely to binge drink monthly, especially among men who didn't attend college.
A new study found that mixing alcohol with diet soft drinks can result in a higher breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) compared to the same amount of alcohol consumed with a sugar-sweetened mixer. This can lead to increased risk of alcohol-impaired driving and acute alcohol intoxication problems.
Researchers at UTHealth found American Indians to be significantly more at risk of suicide after acute alcohol intoxication. The study used data from the National Violent Death Reporting System and found that heavier drinkers were more likely to attempt or complete suicide.
A study found a strong association between childhood emotional abuse and reduced serotonin neurotransmission in male alcohol-dependent individuals. The finding suggests that childhood trauma may contribute to the development of alcoholism by affecting brain chemistry.
A recent study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that American Indians are at much greater risk of suicide following acute alcohol intoxication. The study analyzed data from the National Violent Death Reporting System and showed that alcohol-related prevention strategies should focus on suicide as a conseq...
A University of Iowa-led study found that adolescents whose best friends drink alcohol are twice as likely to have a first drink and three times as likely to begin drinking themselves. The study aims to help specialists predict when adolescents are likely to first consume alcohol to prevent problem drinking.
A new study found that a low subjective response to alcohol, or the ability to 'hold one's liquor,' may protect against short-term alcohol problems but increases the risk of long-term problems as tolerance develops. The study examined associations between early subjective response and acquired tolerance in heavy-drinking young adults.
A study using rodents found that binge-like drinking can cause damage to the hippocampus after 24 hours, indicated by increased expression of vimentin brain protein. Chronic drinking is known to have detrimental health effects, and this research provides new insights into the threshold for alcohol-induced brain damage.
A new study found that lower minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws are associated with more frequent binge episodes and less moderate drinking, persisting into later adulthood. The research suggests that raising the MLDA to 21 can prevent alcohol-related harms in underage drinkers and other people under 21.
The study found that the new diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is unlikely to be much higher in prevalence than the combined diagnoses of Alcohol Abuse and Dependence. Additionally, the genetic etiology of AUD is largely consistent with that of AA and AD, suggesting that heritable influences are shared across all three conditions.
A study found that impaired executive function may exacerbate impulsiveness and increase the risk of developing alcohol dependence in adult offspring of individuals with a family history of alcohol dependence. This cognitive endophenotype is associated with decreased EF capabilities and high levels of impulsivity.
A new study found that drinker identity and brand allegiance are factors linking alcohol marketing and problematic drinking among experimental underage drinkers. Exposure to alcohol marketing is associated with both initiation and progression of alcohol use in youth.
A new study suggests that early drunkenness is a greater risk factor for problem behaviors in teenagers than an early age at first drink. The research found that consuming small amounts of alcohol at a young age can lead to various adolescent problems, such as smoking, marijuana use, injuries, and low academic performance.
A new study reveals that the mu opioid receptor genotype is associated with the pleasant and stimulating effects of alcohol, but not its sedative effects. Individuals with a specific mutation in this gene respond more strongly to alcohol's rewarding effects, which may help predict their risk of developing an alcohol use disorder.
A new study found that AA participation has different benefits for men and women in terms of maintaining sobriety. For women, increased confidence in avoiding drinking during sad or depressed times was crucial, while for men, avoiding companions who encourage drinking was more important.
A new study suggests that moderate drinking can decrease brain cell production by up to 40% in adults, leading to potential harm on learning and memory. Researchers found that rats exposed to low levels of alcohol showed reduced nerve cells in the hippocampus, a crucial area for new learning.
A recent study found that a family history of alcoholism may exacerbate the damaging effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on children's neural functioning, particularly in spatial working memory. The research suggests multiple developmental mechanisms, including insult from PAE and functional differences based on FHP, leading to SWM im...
Researchers found that brain volume recovery can occur within the first two weeks of abstinence, but at different rates for various brain regions. This study suggests that a minimum of two-week recovery program is necessary to help recovering addicts overcome addiction and achieve abstinence.
A recent study found that annualized death rates were 4.6-fold higher for female alcohol-dependent individuals and 1.9-fold higher for males compared to the general population. The study also revealed that females with AD had significantly lower life expectancy, with a mean age at death of 60 years.
A study found that rats who had intermittent access to alcohol exhibited cognitive impairment similar to established alcoholism after just a few months. The researchers linked this impairment to the activation of a small group of neurons that inhibit executive control functions in the prefrontal cortex.
Researchers propose innovative treatments for alcohol dependence, including motor rehabilitation to increase inhibitory control and environmental enrichment to reduce craving. These approaches aim to improve treatment outcomes and reduce the health and social costs associated with addiction.
A new report reveals that mental illnesses and addictions have a significant impact on the health of Ontarians, with depression having the highest burden. The report highlights the need for treatment and reduced stigma to address this issue.
A study of 48 German families found that treatment for alcoholism significantly reduced family costs directly related to a family member's alcoholism. After twelve months of treatment, average costs attributable to alcoholism decreased from 20.2% to 4.3% of the total pre-tax family income.